Switch-closer.



R. P. PRICE.

SWITCH CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30. I917.

1,282,937. Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

E 8 e o Q y Q e \X m WITNESSES ATTORN EY Warren snares rarnivr onrion ROBERT ram, or some, .MONTANA.

swrrorncnosna. V

Application filed July 30, 1917.

TolaZZ whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, ROBERT P. PRICE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Closers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto an improved device for closing theswitch commonly used in connection with automobiles and closed when starting the engine and is of the same point upon the circumference of the ring with the exception of that in'which a cutout is formed, the finger will be extended thus preventing the abutment finger from passing the ring.

Another object of the invention is to so, construct this switch that the combination thereof may be readily changed when desired.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this switch that the locking finger will be normally held in a position to permit of passage through the ringwhen in alinement with the cutout thereof but to prevent passage ofthe finger excepting at a predetermined point upon the ring.-

Another object of the invention is to so construct this switch that it may be mounted upon the dash-board of the automobile where it will be easy to have access to the switch.

This invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional'view through the improved switch.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the improved switch.

The cylinder 10 is connectedwith one side of the dash-board 11 and extends about an opening 12 in the dashboard. Slots 13 are formed in the upper and lower portions of this cylinder and: extend circumferentially of the same so that the permutation rings 14, 15 and 16 which are positioned in the cylinder may be releasably held in an ad justed'position by means of the screw fasteners 17 extending through the slots 13.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ctl 29, 1913.

Serial No. 183,542.

These permutation rings are provided with notches or cutouts 18 and it will be seen that by turning the rings, the cutouts may be moved to adjusted position thus changing the combination. Pins 21 extend from the ring 16 and constitute baffles which will make it more di'liicult for an unauthorized person to actuate this device.

A sleeve 22 extends through the opening 12 in the dash-board 11 and through an opening in the head 23 of the cylinder 10 and is rotatably mounted and held in place by means of the securing nut 24. This sleeve carries a head or knob 25 at its outer en-d, which head is provided with a pointer or finger 26 extending across the dial 27 so that it can be readily ascertained when the sleeve has been turned to the proper position. A threaded stem 28 is rotatably mounted inthis sleeve and is provided at one end with a securing-nut 29 and at its opposite end with a head or turning knob'30 which is similar to theturning knob 25 and is provided with an indicating finger 31 similar to the indicating fingers 26. It will thus be seen that the sleeve 22 and threaded stem 28 can be independently rotated and further that as the sleeve is provided with longitudinally extending slots 32, this sleeve will form means for preventing rotation of the-arm or finger 35 which 1s internally threaded and mounted upon this threaded stem 28 and extends through the slots 32 as clearly shown. in Fig. 2. r This finger will therefore move longitudinally 01": the sleeve when the stem is rotated and during its course of movement will pass through the permutation rings 14, 15 and 16.

This finger is provided with a plunger 34 andwith an engaging tooth 35, the plunger being slidably mounted in a pocket formed in the finger and yieldably held in araised position as shown in Fig. 1 by means of the spring 36. When this finger 33 moves to a point adjacent the dashboard, the tooth 35 Will engage the movable contact 37 and move the same into engagement with the stationary contact 38 thus completing the circuit through the wires 39 and 40. In the opposite end portion of the finger 33 there is provided a pocket in which is slidably mounted a plunger or tooth 41 secured be tween links 42 of the trigger lever 43. This trigger or lever 43 is pivotally connected with the tooth or block 35 and is engaged by thespriug 44 so that under normalconditions the spring will move the trigger away from the plunger 34 and draw the plunger 41 upwardly to a point permitting it to pass through the permutation rings. If this trigger 43 should strike one of the permutation u rings it will be moved toward the plunger 34 and the plunger 41 would then be moved downwardly so that its free end portion will engage the permutation rings thus preventing the finger 33 from moving through the permutation rings. In the operation of this switch actuating device, the head 25 will be turned to move the indicating finger 26 to the proper position to bring the finger 33 into alinement with the notch of the permutation ring 16 and stem 28 will then be rotated through the medium of the head 30 thus causing the finger to move longitudinally of the stem and pass through the permutation rings. The sleeve will then be turned to bring the finger into alinement with the notch of the ring 15 and after the stem 28 has been rotated to move the finger through the ring 15, the operation will be repeated and the finger moved through the ring 14. A further turning of the stem 28 will bring the tooth 35 into engagement with the movable contact 37 and this contact will be brought into engagement with the stationary contact 38 thus closing the circuit. This can be easily done by a person knowing the proper combination but if an unauthorized person should attempt to move the finger longitudinally of the stem by r0 tating the stem to bring the finger into engagement with the first permutation ring and then turning the sleeve so as to feel the combination, the trigger 43 would engage the ring 16 and move the plunger 41 outwardly into engagement with the ring thus preventing movement of the finger through the ring. The pins 21 would also tend to prevent movement of the sleeve 22 with the finger close to the ring.

hen it is no longer necessary to have'the circuit closed, the stem can be turned to the left thus moving the finger 33 toward the head 23 of the cylinder ;until the ,finger reaches the position shown in Fig. 1. It is not necessary to turn the sleeve to bring the finger into alinement with the notches of the permutation ring as the curved end face of this plunger 34 will permit the plunger to ride past the ring when moving to the inoperative position. A casing 45 is secured to the (lash-board about the cylinder 10 thus inclosing the cylinder and preventing the combination from being tampered with and also protecting the device from injury due to dust and dirt. I have therefore provided a circuit closing device which is so constructed that it cannot be readily operated by unauthorized persons and which is so constructed that when so desired, the com bll'latlOIl may be readily and quickly changed.

register with the said notches. In any other position of these parts, they engage the permutation rings. The outer end of the plunger 41 terminates so as to clearthe permutation rings. If the finger 33 be advanced without first'being moved to bring the plunger 34 and trigger 43 in line with the notch 18 of the permutation ring, the outer end of the trigger 43 will engage with the permutation ring and be pressed backward, thereby projecting the plunger 41 across the path of the permutation ring to be engaged thereby and prevent the finding of the notch by turning the sleeve 22. On the backward or reverse movement of the finger 33, its travel will not be obstructed if the plunger 34 and trigger 43 are not in register with the notch 18 in the permutation ring, because the beveled end of the plunger 34 will ride on the permutation ring and the outer end of the trigger will move so as to likewise ride on the permutation ring. This movement of the trigger draws the plunger 41 inward.

What is claimed is 1. A permutation device comprising a cylinder, permutation rings in said cylinder, a sleeve rotatably mounted to extend through the cylinder, and provided with longitudinally extending slots, a threaded stem extending through the sleeve, a finger positioned in the sleeve and provided with a threaded passage through which said stem passes whereby rotation of the stem will move the finger longitudinally, plungers slidably connected with the finger, resilient means yieldably holding one of said plungers in an extended position,.a trigger pivotally connected with the finger and engaging the second plunger for imparting movement thereto when the trigger is moved, and means engaging the trigger. to yieldably hold the same in a set position with the sec- 0nd plunger held out of engagement with the permutation ring.

2. A permutation device comprising" a housing, and permutation rings in said housing provided with passageways, a threaded stem rotatably mounted in said housing, a finger threaded upon said stem,

a plunger slidably connected with the finger,

engagement of the trigger With the permutation rings moving the plunger to an operative position, andv means for rotating the threaded stem to move the finger longitudinally thereof.

3. A permutation device comprising a housing, permutation rings in said housing provided with passageways, a threaded stem extending through the housing and rotatably mounted, a finger rotatably mounted upon the housing and moving longitudinally thereof when the stem is rotated, a plunger slidably connected with the finger, and actuating means carried by the finger and connected with the plunger for moving the plunger to engage the permutation rings upon the actuating means coming in contact with the permutation rings.

4. A permutation device comprising a housing, permutation rings in the housing, a threaded stem rotatably mounted in the housing, a finger loose upon the stem and moving longitudinally thereof when the stem is rotated, a plunger slidably connected with the finger, and actuating means for the plunger positioned to engage the-permutation rings and move the plunger to an operative position. i

5. A v permutation device comprising a housing, permutation rings in the housing, a finger movably mounted in the housing for passage through the permutation rings, plunger means movahly connected with the finger and trigger means pivoted to the finger for moving the plunger means to an operative position through engagement with the permutation rings.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of a witness.

ROBERT P. PRICE. Witness A. P. LEAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

